Flex conduit

[FL Guy]

How the heck are y’all running 3 strands of 10 awg wire through 70’ of 1/2” flex conduit?

I was able to **** a string from one end to the other, but I could only pull the wire about 12 feet into the conduit before it got tough. Took the string off and could only push the wire in the same distance. Conduit was stretched out nice and straight on the ground.

 

[LopezBart]

Things go better with lube?

 

[PCustoms]

Why are you running 70' of sealtite?

I definitely would have gone with a larger size....

Get everything as straight as possible and use plenty of lube.

NOTE: I haven't checked a fill table to see if this is OK.

 

[LopezBart]

https://www.elliottelectric.com/Sta...nces/ElectricalTables/Conduit_Fill_Table.aspx appears to say it is.

 

[mike93lx]

Lube makes lots of things easier

 

[alfredeneuman]

Why are you running 70' of sealtite?

He didn't say it was sealtite.
All conduit including flex has to be completely installed from pull point to pull point before the wires are pulled so they can be removed later for any wire replacement.

 

[PCustoms]

https://www.elliottelectric.com/Sta...nces/ElectricalTables/Conduit_Fill_Table.aspx appears to say it is.

One I found says up to 6....

No thanks!

 

[PCustoms]

He didn't say it was sealtite.

He said flex. I've always (perhaps incorrectly) called it sealtite.

What do you call the material in his pic?

All conduit including flex has to be completely installed from pull point to pull point before the wires are pulled.

Not sure why this was directed at me? I've never gave it much thought regarding flex conduit, how are AC whips OK?

 

[dcg9381]

Lube makes lots of things easier

I use this stuff:


Slip the hose in, stick my thumb in over it and spray till it comes out the other side. Having someone hold the flex conduit straight will be a big help, but you're limited to how far you can go if you're pushing.

It may be easier to pull rather than push (but you've tried that, so it's likely you just need lube). These are the other two secret tools that make conduit pulls a lot easier.

 

[FL Guy]

Why are you running 70' of sealtite?

I definitely would have gone with a larger size....

Get everything as straight as possible and use plenty of lude.

NOTE: I haven't checked a fill table to see if this is OK.

It’s liquid tight non metallic flexible conduit. It can take up to 6 stands of 10awg wire.

 

[alfredeneuman]

He said flex. I've always (perhaps incorrectly) called it sealtite.
What do you call the material in his pic?

There are all kinds of flex conduits, metal (both aluminum and steel), nonmetallic liquidtite, metallic liquidtite. Sealtite is (I think Anaconda's) trademarked name for metallic liquidtite.

Not sure why this was directed at me.. but Ive Never gave it much thought regarding flex conduit. How are AC whips OK?

I was responding to the OP for the explanation why the wires aren't supposed to be installed on the ground.
A/C whips are UL listed assemblies.

 

[FL Guy]

I use this stuff:


Slip the hose in, stick my thumb in over it and spray till it comes out the other side. Having someone hold the flex conduit straight will be a big help, but you're limited to how far you can go if you're pushing.

It may be easier to pull rather than push (but you've tried that, so it's likely you just need lube). These are the other two secret tools that make conduit pulls a lot easier.

Will one can fill 70’ of conduit?

 

[FL Guy]

There are all kinds of flex conduits, metal (both aluminum and steel), nonmetallic liquidtite, metallic liquidtite. Sealtite is (I think Anaconda's) trademarked name for metallic liquidtite.

I was responding to the OP for the explanation why the wires aren't supposed to be installed on the ground.
A/C whips are UL listed assemblies.

It’s liquid tight non metallic flexible conduit

 

[dcg9381]

Will one can fill 70’ of conduit?

1/2? I'd guess yes. It's a foam and it substantially expands. Drys clean.

 

[PCustoms]

There are all kinds of flex conduits, metal (both aluminum and steel), nonmetallic liquidtite, metallic liquidtite. Sealtite is (I think Anaconda's) trademarked name for metallic liquidtite.

As long as we're being pedantic, you're only partly correct.

They also have trademarked sealtite non-metalic.

Google results for sealtite:



IMHO, kind of like saying Kleenex when you really mean facial tissue, or Romex when you're using NM-B.

 

[alfredeneuman]

It’s liquid tight non metallic flexible conduit

Which is the most difficult type run wire through

 

[FL Guy]

Which is the most difficult type run wire through

I’ve noticed that

 

[alfredeneuman]

They also have trademarked sealtite non-metalic.

I should have said "the original maker".
Sorry about that. I believe the name was originally "Anaconda Metal Hose" before the trademark date. It was changed to Sealtight , not Sealtite.

 

[N_Jay]

Use some tape to make the end nice and smooth. (Like a bullet with the pull string ion the center.)

 

[FL Guy]

Use some tape to make the end nice and smooth. (Like a bullet with the pull string ion the center.)

I tried that. Even used a wire nut and clipped off the wings… yea didn’t pull.
I’m going go to get some Klein foam stuff

 

[LXCam]

Nail off or secure the wire feed side of the flex. Pull the flex tight (straight) and pull your wire in. If you’re trying this any other way the flex will bunch up on you and you’ll never get it in.

 

[FL Guy]

Nail off or secure the wire feed side of the flex. Pull the flex tight (straight) and pull your wire in. If you’re trying this any other way the flex will bunch up on you and you’ll never get it in.

The conduit has remained straight. It doesn’t seem to want to curl up

 

[PCustoms]

The conduit has remained straight. It doesn’t seem to want to curl up

Is your wire all twisted?

If this was me (note this wouldn't be to code), I'd clamp the conduit at one end and stretch it out.

Then I'd feed a pull tape/snake through so that you will be pulling it back out against the clamp.

Bundle my conductors, staggering by 10". The longest, single strains then gets tied or taped to the pull tape.

 

[sparky 1971]

Stretch the flex out on the the floor and have someone roll it back and forth with their foot while pulling. It also helps to have someone pushing the wire one end while it's getting pulled. Lube will help but it's not going to be the end all.

I've put three #10's in 3/8 flex by myself by rolling it back and forth, it wasn't 70' but the principle is the same.

 

[LXCam]

The conduit has remained straight. It doesn’t seem to want to curl up

I’ve got too many decades in this trade to know better. Try it, you might be surprised

One last thing. I think you said you’re using string to pull this thru. If that’s your everyday nylon stuff and if you’ve tried pulling it with any kind of curls (bends) in it. That stuff will eat right into that plastic flex. That might be what your stopping point is.

 

[FL Guy]

Wow. This sh*t works!! Gave the pipe a 2 second squirt and started pulling the cable through with kite string. Took about 45 seconds!

 

[wyliesdiesels]

How the heck are y’all running 3 strands of 10 awg wire through 70’ of 1/2” flex conduit?

I was able to **** a string from one end to the other, but I could only pull the wire about 12 feet into the conduit before it got tough. Took the string off and could only push the wire in the same distance. Conduit was stretched out nice and straight on the ground.

we arent

I cant think of any application that would need 70' of LT.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

He didn't say it was sealtite.
All conduit including flex has to be completely installed from pull point to pull point before the wires are pulled so they can be removed later for any wire replacement.

sealtite® and liquidtight are often used interchangeably much like romex® and NM-b.

having said that, try looking at the pictures. its most definitely LT or sealtite® brand flexible non-metallic conduit.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

He said flex. I've always (perhaps incorrectly) called it sealtite.

What do you call the material in his pic?



Not sure why this was directed at me? I've never gave it much thought regarding flex conduit, how are AC whips OK?

sealtite® is a registered brand name of anaconda

liquidtight is the trade name as stated in NEC code.

OP has LT as pictured. alfredneuman failed to look at the pics

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I should have said "the original maker".
Sorry about that. I believe the name was originally "Anaconda Metal Hose" before the trademark date. It was changed to Sealtight , not Sealtite.

wrong again

check their website. even the manufacturer spells it sealtite®

Flexible Electrical Conduit Solutions | Anamet Electrical

Anamet Electrical offers top-tier flexible conduit systems for harsh environments. Protect your wiring with our durable solutions. Request a quote today!

www.anacondasealtite.com

 

[PCustoms]

Wow. This sh*t works!! Gave the pipe a 2 second squirt and started pulling the cable through with kite string. Took about 45 seconds!

Where's your ground?

 

[mike93lx]

Where's your ground?

Hopefully not the one with black tape...

 

[PCustoms]

Hopefully not the one with black tape...

The red one?

 

[mike93lx]

The red one?

There is one with tape. Looks like 3 reds to me

 

[PCustoms]

There is one with tape. Looks like 3 reds to me

I know....

OP needs to start over and pull a green.

 

[mike93lx]

I know....

OP needs to start over and pull a green.

I know...

 

[alfredeneuman]

check their website. even the manufacturer spells it sealtite®

I didn't check their website. Wylie's correct.

 

[PCustoms]

I didn't check their website. Wylie's correct.

I was correct before you were wrong correcting me and then Wylie correctly corrected you

 

[alfredeneuman]

I looked up the site Wylie posted and the longer make wire.
Their original plant was located in Orange, Ca not very far from me.
I used to work for them 40 years ago in the maintenance dept.
I thought that were out of business completely.
Their mines in the US were so polluted the EPA considered them "Superfund sites"